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Zhao W, Russell CM, Jankovsky A, Cannon TD, Pittenger C, Pushkarskaya H. Information processing style and institutional trust as factors of COVID vaccine hesitancy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10416. [PMID: 38710827 PMCID: PMC11074285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60788-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigates the factors contributing to COVID vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy has commonly been attributed to susceptibility to misinformation and linked to particular socio-demographic factors and personality traits. We present a new perspective, emphasizing the interplay between individual cognitive styles and perceptions of public health institutions. In January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, 318 participants underwent a comprehensive assessment, including self-report measures of personality and clinical characteristics, as well as a behavioral task that assessed information processing styles. During 2021, attitudes towards vaccines, scientists, and the CDC were measured at three time points (February-October). Panel data analysis and structural equation modeling revealed nuanced relationships between these measures and information processing styles over time. Trust in public health institutions, authoritarian submission, and lower information processing capabilities together contribute to vaccine acceptance. Information processing capacities influenced vaccination decisions independently from the trust level, but their impact was partially mediated by authoritarian tendencies. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of vaccine hesitancy, which emerges as a product of interactions between individual cognitive styles and perceptions of public health institutions. This novel perspective provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that drive this complex phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanchen Zhao
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, 100 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Catherine Maya Russell
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Anastasia Jankovsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
| | - Tyrone D Cannon
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, 100 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher Pittenger
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, 100 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Center for Brain and Mind Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Helen Pushkarskaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 34 Park Street, 3rd Floor, New Haven, CT, 06519, USA.
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Alabadi M, Pitt V, Aldawood Z. A Qualitative Analysis of Social-Ecological Factors Shaping Childhood Immunisation Hesitancy and Delay in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1400. [PMID: 37766077 PMCID: PMC10536341 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11091400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Immunisation is a crucial and effective method for preventing infectious diseases, with its success dependent on high immunisation rates to protect under-immunised individuals and promote herd immunity. This qualitative descriptive study is part of a larger explanatory sequential mixed method design that aims to explore factors influencing parents' decision making to complete childhood immunisation in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, a country experiencing disparities in immunisation coverage across its population. (2) Methods: The sample consisted of a subset of participants from the initial quantitative phase, which included a survey on the immunisation attitudes of parents living in Qatif. This initial phase included n = 350 participants, who were over 18, had access to one of the 27 Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres in Qatif, and had a child under 24 months. This paper presents the qualitative-descriptive phase, which used a qualitative survey to gain open-ended responses from parents (n = 20) and analysed using thematic analysis. (3) Results: Participants identified certain vaccines, particularly MMR, as influencing their immunisation practices. Specific factors identified as deterring parents from immunising their children included fear of autism and other developmental delays, concerns about risks and side effects, mistrust in vaccine efficacy, and discouraging information from the media. Parents' immunisation decisions were evidently affected by policy compliance, family and friends, and social networking sites. These factors are explained through the socio-ecological model. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic influenced parents' decisions on vaccine completion in terms of perceived barriers, perceived benefits, and perceived trust. (4) Conclusions: By examining the social-ecological factors shaping parents' decisions to immunise their children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, this research contributes to the literature and informs the Saudi National Childhood Immunisation Programme about factors contributing to childhood immunisation hesitancy, helping to address a critical healthcare issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Alabadi
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia;
| | - Victoria Pitt
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia;
| | - Zakariya Aldawood
- Primary Health Care Division of Qatif City, General Directorate of Health Affairs in the Eastern Region, Ministry of Health, Qatif 31911, Saudi Arabia;
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Al Saad AJ, Alhassan GM, Albedaiwi MS, Alqattan FF, Aleisa FA, Alabdulmuhsin HW. Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among parents of children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:1235. [PMID: 37365523 PMCID: PMC10294403 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16127-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination was noticed to be less common among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. This study aimed to explore the beliefs and willingness of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders about COVID-19 vaccine and understand how certain factors influencing the vaccine decision-making process differ between them and other parents' groups. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted between August to November 2021. An Arabic online survey was distributed in August 2021 to collect the study's data. 400 parents from all the major regions in Saudi Arabia participated in and shared their beliefs about the new COVID-19 vaccination for their children. RESULTS Out of 400 participants, 381 of them were eligible to answer the survey (95.2%). The total number of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorder was 158 (41.5%), was compared to responses of parents of heathy children 223 (58.5%). 85 (53.8%) of them were ready to vaccinate their children with COVID-19 vaccine. While 36 (22.8%) were hesitant, the rest 37 (23.4%) did not want to vaccinate their children at all. Only a small number 16 (10.1%) have beliefs of vaccines as a cause of their child's neurodevelopmental disorder. A total of 79 out of 131 responses were received from both parents' groups. Fear of long-term side-effects was the most common reason reported by 41 responders out of 64 (64.06%) from parents of healthy children and 38 responders out of 67 (56.71%) from parents of diagnosed children. Another reason reported by parents of younger children in both groups was the child's age. Having a healthcare relative worker was significantly associated with the vaccine decision making (p < .001). CONCLUSION The acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccination of parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders was low compared to the parents of healthy children in Saudi Arabia. Authorities can benefit from this study results to offer more accessible information about the vaccine importance and safety to the targeted population.
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Khoodoruth MAS, Khoodoruth WNCK, Ramadan AAM, Johnson B, Gulistan S, Deluvio RBC, Alamri MN, Al-Abdulla M, Ouanes S, Khan YS. Evaluating COVID-19 vaccination intentions and vaccine hesitancy among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7353. [PMID: 37147338 PMCID: PMC10161974 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34191-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As the global vaccination mass campaign against COVID-19 extended to children aged 5 to 11 years, some parents remained hesitant about their children being administered the vaccine despite data supporting its safety. Parent vaccine hesitancy (PVH) may have predisposed certain groups of children, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to COVID-19 when other neurotypical children would have been vaccinated. We investigated the current PVH in 243 parents of children with ASD and 245 controls using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) scale. The study was conducted in Qatar from May to October 2022. Overall, 15.0% [95% CI 11.7%; 18.3%] of parents were vaccine-hesitant, with no difference (p = 0.054) between groups (ASD children [18.2%] vs. controls [11.7%]). The only sociodemographic factor associated with higher vaccine hesitancy was being a mother (as compared to being a father). The COVID-19 vaccine receipt rate at the time of the study did not differ between ASD (24.3%) and non-ASD groups (27.8%). Around two-thirds of parents of children with ASD refused or were unsure about vaccinating their children against COVID-19. We found that the intent to vaccinate against COVID-19 was higher in parents who were married and in those with a lower PACV total score. Continued public health efforts are needed to address vaccine hesitancy among parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Adil Shah Khoodoruth
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
- Division of Genomics and Precision Medicine, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Education City, Qatar.
| | | | | | - Beena Johnson
- Child Development Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shaima Gulistan
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | - Majid Al-Abdulla
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sami Ouanes
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Yasser Saeed Khan
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar
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Ferenc K, Byrka K, Król ME. The spectrum of attitudes towards the spectrum of autism and its relationship to psychological distress in mothers of children with autism. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2023; 27:54-64. [PMID: 35296156 DOI: 10.1177/13623613221081185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Mothers of children on the autism spectrum experience high levels of emotional distress. Mothers cope with stress by having their own thoughts and opinions about their children. In this study, we tested whether the way mothers perceive autism may contribute to the level of distress they feel. Some mothers see autism as a developmental disorder that needs to be cured, but some see autism as a type of mind that needs to be accepted. Our findings showed that mothers who see autism more as a type of mind are generally less stressed. But we also showed that it matters how severe are the child's symptoms, and how heavy was the perceived burden of caring for the child. These results imply that it is worth working on attitudes towards autism to help mothers cope better. But at the same time, we argue that mothers should not be judged for their perceptions of autism, as there is a huge spectrum of a child's characteristics and family's life circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinga Ferenc
- SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland
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Bussink-Voorend D, Hautvast JLA, Vandeberg L, Visser O, Hulscher MEJL. A systematic literature review to clarify the concept of vaccine hesitancy. Nat Hum Behav 2022; 6:1634-1648. [PMID: 35995837 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-022-01431-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is considered a top-10 global health threat. The concept of VH has been described and applied inconsistently. This systematic review aims to clarify VH by analysing how it is operationalized. We searched PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases on 14 January 2022. We selected 422 studies containing operationalizations of VH for inclusion. One limitation is that studies of lower quality were not excluded. Our qualitative analysis reveals that VH is conceptualized as involving (1) cognitions or affect, (2) behaviour and (3) decision making. A wide variety of methods have been used to measure VH. Our findings indicate the varied and confusing use of the term VH, leading to an impracticable concept. We propose that VH should be defined as a state of indecisiveness regarding a vaccination decision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Bussink-Voorend
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Jeannine L A Hautvast
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Vandeberg
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Olga Visser
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Primary and Community Care, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marlies E J L Hulscher
- Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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Ionescu S, Jourdan-Ionescu C. [Autism Spectrum Disorders: What the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Taught Us]. ANNALES MEDICO-PSYCHOLOGIQUES 2022; 181:S0003-4487(22)00270-0. [PMID: 36091091 PMCID: PMC9444502 DOI: 10.1016/j.amp.2022.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The article is devoted to the consequences of the pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 and more particularly, of the preventive measures adopted during this period on people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). These people are more at risk (especially in cases of comorbidity with intellectual disability) of being infected and hospitalized longer. This increased risk is explained by the presence of biological risk factors (increased cytokines, decreased melatonin) and by psychological factors related to the clinical picture of ASD. Hesitancy concerning COVID vaccinations is discussed in relation to the erroneously purported link between vaccination and the onset of autism. As expected, the pandemic has had negative effects on the clinical picture of children, adolescents, and adults with ASD: sleep disorders, increased behavioural disorders, more stereotypies, parental distress. Unexpectedly, researchers and clinicians have also highlighted the positive effects of the pandemic, described as the "paradoxical‿ effects (improved communication and relationships, decreased anxiety, being happier because of being more in control over their schedule). The explanation for these effects was related to non-attendance at school and, thus, no bullying, decreased sensory and social overload, increased time spent at home, and solidarity with the autistic community and with the entire community. Finally, the question of the transfer of certain conditions that contributed to the above-mentioned improvements to the post-pandemic period is addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serban Ionescu
- Laboratoire CHArt - EA4004 Université Paris 8 - Saint-Denis, 93200 Saint-Denis, France
| | - Colette Jourdan-Ionescu
- Laboratoire sur les facteurs de protection Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Trois-Rivières (Québec) G8Z 4M3, Canada
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Sabapathy T, Goss M, Borelli JL, Steinberg-Epstein R. A Pediatrician's Guide to Working with Children on the Autism Spectrum in Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Beyond: Retrospect and Prospect. Adv Pediatr 2022; 69:41-58. [PMID: 35985716 PMCID: PMC8979765 DOI: 10.1016/j.yapd.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event with devastating effects on children and families, highlighting and broadening disparities in the care of children with developmental disabilities, while simultaneously catalyzing innovation. Children are vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, resulting in increased stress, anxiety, isolation, and health challenges, further amplified in autistic children and children with other neurodevelopmental disabilities. These children are uniquely vulnerable due to communication impairments, comorbid medical disorders, reduced adaptability, and reliance on therapeutic interventions. Abrupt reduction in services and access to care during the pandemic compromised physical and mental health and led to missed intervention opportunities at critical times. It is important to examine the effects that the pandemic triggered, address deficiencies, and recognize new opportunities to improve systems of care to prepare for unforeseen futures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thusa Sabapathy
- University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2500 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705, USA.
| | - Megan Goss
- UC Irvine/CHOC Children's Hospital of Orange County, 505 S. Main Street, Suite 525, Orange, CA 92868, USA
| | - Jessica L Borelli
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4201 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Robin Steinberg-Epstein
- University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 2500 Red Hill Avenue, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92705, USA
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Ophir Y, Walter N, Walter D, Velho RM, Lokmanoglu AD, Pruden ML, Andrews EA. Vaccine Hesitancy Under the Magnifying Glass: A Systematic Review of the Uses and Misuses of an Increasingly Popular Construct. HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2022:1-15. [PMID: 35361020 DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2022.2054102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to vaccines has hindered attempts to contain and prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases for centuries. More recently, however, the term "vaccine hesitancy" has been used to describe not necessarily outright resistance but also a delay in acceptance or uncertainty regarding vaccines. Given concerns about hesitancy and its impact on vaccine uptake rates, researchers increasingly shifted the focus from resistance to vaccines toward vaccine hesitancy. Acknowledging the urgency to accurately assess the phenomenon, it is critical to understand the state of the literature, focusing on issues of conceptualization and operationalization. To carry out this systematic review, we collected and analyzed all published empirical articles from 2000 to 2021 that explicitly included quantitative self-report measures of vaccine hesitancy (k = 86). Using a mixed-method approach, the review demonstrates and quantifies crucial inconsistencies in the measurement of the construct, lack of clarity in regard to the determination of who should or should not be defined as hesitant, and overreliance on unrepresentative samples. Crucially, our analysis points to a potential systematic bias toward exaggerating the level of hesitancy in the population. Modeling a vaccine hesitancy co-citation network, the analysis also points to the existence of insular academic silos that make it harder to achieve a unified measurement tool. Theoretical and practical implications for academics, practitioners, and policymakers are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotam Ophir
- Department of Communication, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
| | - Nathan Walter
- Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University
| | - Dror Walter
- Department of Communication, Georgia State University
| | - Raphaela M Velho
- Department of Communication, University at Buffalo, State University of New York
| | | | - Meredith L Pruden
- Center for Information, Technology and Public Life, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Emily A Andrews
- Department of Communication Studies, Northwestern University
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Choi K, Becerra-Culqui T, Bhakta B, Bruxvoort K, Coleman KJ. Parent intentions to vaccinate children with autism spectrum disorder against COVID-19. J Pediatr Nurs 2022; 63:108-110. [PMID: 34836713 PMCID: PMC8610810 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between parent vaccine confidence and intention to have their child with autism vaccinated against COVID-19. DESIGN AND METHODS A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted from May to July 2021 with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (N = 322) who were members of an integrated healthcare system in Southern California. RESULTS Approximately 35% of parents intended to vaccinate their child against COVID-19. In adjusted models, positive vaccine beliefs-but not belief in vaccine harm, healthcare provider trust, or parent vaccination status-were associated with intention to vaccinate. CONCLUSIONS Though parents usually trust recommendations from pediatric healthcare providers to make decisions about their child's health, these findings suggest that relying on trusted relationships alone may not be sufficient when discussing COVID-19 vaccines and that additional education to bolster vaccine confidence may be needed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Pediatric healthcare providers should reinforce the benefits of vaccines for parents who are undecided about COVID-19 vaccines for their children and provide education and evidence-based recommendations to parents who hold erroneous vaccine beliefs about risks, benefits, and current evidence, especially those related to autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Choi
- School of Nursing, University of California, 700 Tiverton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States of America; Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 100 S. Los Robles, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States of America.
| | - Tracy Becerra-Culqui
- Department of Occupational Therapy, California State University, Dominguez Hills, 1000 E. Victoria Street, Carson, CA 90747, United States of America
| | - Bhumi Bhakta
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 100 S. Los Robles, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States of America
| | - Katia Bruxvoort
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 100 S. Los Robles, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, United States of America
| | - Karen J Coleman
- Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, 100 S. Los Robles, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States of America
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Hatton C, Bailey T, Bradshaw J, Caton S, Flynn S, Gillooly A, Jahoda A, Maguire R, Marriott A, Mulhall P, Oloidi E, Taggart L, Todd S, Abbott D, Beyer S, Gore N, Heslop P, Scior K, Hastings RP. The willingness of UK adults with intellectual disabilities to take COVID-19 vaccines. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2021; 65:949-961. [PMID: 34529314 PMCID: PMC8657332 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the much greater COVID-19 mortality risk experienced by people with intellectual disabilities (ID), understanding the willingness of people with ID to take a COVID-19 vaccine is a major public health issue. METHOD In December 2020 to February 2021, across the United Kingdom, 621 adults with ID were interviewed remotely and 348 family carers or support workers of adults with ID with greater needs completed an online survey, including a question on willingness to take a COVID-19 vaccine if offered. RESULTS Eighty-seven per cent of interviewees with ID were willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine, with willingness associated with white ethnicity, having already had a flu vaccine, gaining information about COVID-19 from television but not from social media, and knowing COVID-19 social restrictions rules. A percentage of 81.7% of surveyed carers of adults with ID with greater needs reported that the person would be willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine, with willingness associated with white ethnicity, having a health condition of concern in the context of COVID-19, having had a flu vaccine, being close to someone who had died due to COVID-19, and having shielded at some point during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Reported willingness to take the COVID-19 vaccine is high among adults with ID in the United Kingdom, with factors associated with willingness having clear implications for public health policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Hatton
- Department of Social Care and Social WorkManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - T. Bailey
- Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and ResearchUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | | | - S. Caton
- Department of Social Care and Social WorkManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - S. Flynn
- Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and ResearchUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
| | - A. Gillooly
- Institute of Health and WellbeingUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - A. Jahoda
- Institute of Health and WellbeingUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - R. Maguire
- Institute of Health and WellbeingUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
| | - A. Marriott
- National Development Team for InclusionBathUK
| | - P. Mulhall
- Institute of Nursing and Health ResearchUniversity of UlsterJordanstownUK
| | - E. Oloidi
- Unit for Development in Intellectual and Developmental DisabilitiesUniversity of South WalesPontypriddUK
| | - L. Taggart
- Institute of Nursing and Health ResearchUniversity of UlsterJordanstownUK
| | - S. Todd
- Unit for Development in Intellectual and Developmental DisabilitiesUniversity of South WalesPontypriddUK
| | - D. Abbott
- School for Policy StudiesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - S. Beyer
- School of MedicineUniversity of CardiffCardiffUK
| | - N. Gore
- Tizard CentreUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
| | - P. Heslop
- School for Policy StudiesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | - K. Scior
- Division of Psychology and Language SciencesUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - R. P. Hastings
- Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and ResearchUniversity of WarwickCoventryUK
- Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and PsychologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVICAustralia
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Fombonne E, Coppola L, Mastel S, O'Roak BJ. Validation of Autism Diagnosis and Clinical Data in the SPARK Cohort. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3383-3398. [PMID: 34328611 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05218-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The SPARK cohort was established to facilitate recruitment in studies of large numbers of participants with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Online registration requires participants to have received a lifetime professional diagnosis by health or school providers although diagnoses are not independently verified. This study was set to examine the validity of self- and caregiver-reported autism diagnoses. Electronic medical records (EMR) of 254 SPARK participants (77.6% male, age 10.7 years) were abstracted. Using two different methods, confirmation of ASD diagnosis in EMRs was obtained in 98.8% of cases. Core clinical features recorded in EMRs were typical of autism samples and showed very good agreement with SPARK cohort data, providing further evidence of the validity of clinical information in the SPARK database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Fombonne
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Mail code: GH254, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA.
| | - Leigh Coppola
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Mail code: GH254, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Sarah Mastel
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Mail code: GH254, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Brian J O'Roak
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
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Chen WJ, Zhang Z, Wang H, Tseng TS, Ma P, Chen LS. Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Etiology among Parents of Children with ASD. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:6774. [PMID: 34202481 PMCID: PMC8297016 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication deficits and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Parental perceptions of the etiology of their child's ASD can affect provider-client relationships, bonding between parents and their children, and the prognosis, treatment, and management of children with ASD. Thus, this study sought to examine the perceptions of ASD etiology of parents of children with ASD. METHODS Forty-two parents of children diagnosed with ASD were recruited across Texas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted individually. All interviews were recorded and later transcribed verbatim for content analysis utilizing NVivo 12.0 (QSR International, Doncaster, Australia). RESULTS The content analysis identified the following themes regarding parental perceptions of ASD etiology: Genetic factors (40.5%), environmental factors (31.0%), problems that occurred during pregnancy or delivery (23.8%), vaccinations (16.7%), other health problems (7.1%), parental age at the time of pregnancy (4.8%), and spiritual or religious factors (2.4%). CONCLUSIONS The parental perceptions of ASD etiology were diverse, but several views, such as vaccinations and spiritual or religious factors, were not based on scientific evidence. Health professionals and researchers can use these findings to develop and provide targeted education to parents who have children with ASD. Our findings also support policymakers in developing campaigns designed to increase parental ASD awareness and knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Ju Chen
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas Permian Basin, Odessa, TX 79762, USA;
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.Z.); (H.W.)
| | - Haocen Wang
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.Z.); (H.W.)
| | - Tung-Sung Tseng
- Health Sciences Center, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences Program, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Ping Ma
- Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA;
| | - Lei-Shih Chen
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (Z.Z.); (H.W.)
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Pesonen H, Itkonen T, Saha M, Nordahl-Hansen A. Framing autism in newspaper media: an example from Finland. ADVANCES IN AUTISM 2020. [DOI: 10.1108/aia-01-2020-0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Media play a significant role in the process of raising public awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite an increase in ASD media coverage, there is scarcity of research that examines how the actual frame is constructed and how the news stories are narrated. This study aims to examine the extent to which Finnish print media papers extend medical and societal narration of ASD to other issue domains and the extent to which newspaper stories use a positive, negative or neutral narrative.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyzed 210 full newspaper reports from the largest daily appearing newspaper by circulation in Finland from 1990 to 2016. The authors used the newspaper’s electronic database to conduct a systematic papers search. The authors then used coding scheme about news story framing, which was followed by a detailed content analysis of the papers.
Findings
Approximately two-thirds of the papers consisted of a straightforward informational or clinical lens to educate the public (n = 110). This is in line with international studies. However, the authors’ analysis revealed four additional themes of medical and societal ASD reporting.
Social implications
The study increases understanding about how the media can shape the public perception of ASD, which in turn might influence how autistic individuals are accepted in the society, as well as how they feel that they belong.
Originality/value
While ASD itself is at the center of neutral news reporting, this study’s results imply how to construct ASD from new paradigms. Linking ASD to a culture, and thus extending it to the more commonly accepted notion of deafness as a culture, might shape the public’s perceptions about ASD.
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Fombonne E, Goin-Kochel RP, O'Roak BJ. Beliefs in vaccine as causes of autism among SPARK cohort caregivers. Vaccine 2020; 38:1794-1803. [PMID: 31924427 PMCID: PMC10515441 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear of autism has led to a decline in childhood-immunization uptake and to a resurgence of preventable infectious diseases. Identifying characteristics of parents who believe in a causal role of vaccines for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their child may help targeting educational activities and improve adherence to the immunization schedule. OBJECTIVES To compare caregivers of children with ASD who agree or disagree that vaccines play an etiological role in autism for 1) socio-demographics characteristics and 2) developmental and clinical profiles of their children. METHODS Data from 16,525 participants with ASD under age 18 were obtained from SPARK, a national research cohort started in 2016. Caregivers completed questionnaires at registration that included questions on beliefs about the etiologic role of childhood immunizations and other factors in ASD. Data were available about family socio-demographic characteristics, first symptoms of autism, developmental regression, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, seizures, and current levels of functioning. RESULTS Participants with ASD were 80.4% male with a mean age of 8.1 years (SD = 4.1). Overall, 16.5% of caregivers endorsed immunizations as perceived causes of autism. Compared to caregivers who disagreed with vaccines as a cause for ASD, those who believed in vaccine causation came disproportionately from ethnic minority, less educated, and less wealthy backgrounds. More often their children had experienced developmental regression involving language and other skills, were diagnosed earlier, had lost skills during the second year of life, and had worse language, adaptive, and cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSION One in six caregivers who participate in a national research cohort believe that child immunizations could be a cause of autism in their child. Parent social background (non-White, less educated) and child developmental features (regression in second year, poorer language skills, and worse adaptive outcomes) index caregivers who are more likely to harbor these beliefs and could benefit from targeted educational activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Fombonne
- Departments of Psychiatry, Pediatrics & Behavioral Neuroscience - Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
| | | | - Brian J O'Roak
- Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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